Scotland is worse off economically than Greece and Nicola Sturgeon needs to double income tax to make its ‘finances fit for independence’

The Taxpayers Alliance said it would be suicidal for the SNP to break off from the rest of the UK

By Steve Hawkes

12th October 2016, 10:31 pm

Updated: 13th October 2016, 4:22 pm

NICOLA STURGEON would have to DOUBLE income tax in Scotland if she wants to make the country’s finances fit for independence, it was claimed last night.

The Taxpayers Alliance said that Scotland’s mammoth deficit - £14.8 billion or 9.5 per cent of GDP - meant it is a bigger economic basket case than Greece

PA

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon would have to double income tax to get Scotland's finances in a EU friendly state

They said it would be suicidal for the SNP to break off from the rest of the UK.

And it claimed drastic tax hikes or spending cuts would be needed to bring the deficit down to the 3 per cent of GDP required to join the European Union.

Hiking the basic rate of income tax from 20p to 39p would raise around £10 billion.

Scotland’s First Minister could instead double the rate of VAT or slash health spending by 80 per cent, or cut all spending on police, transport and agriculture.

Related stories

SPY KIDS

Children of immigrants to Britain can be spies as part of landmark MI6 expansion

LABOUR'S CIVIL WAR

'Extremist' Corbyn is unfit for power - says one of his OWN MPs

ROMANIAN EMPIRE

Romanians now outnumber Irish as second largest group of foreigners in UK

EU'S ROBOT ARMY

Brussels' plan to spend £440m defence fund on building KILLER ROBOTS

STAR WARS

PM warns Brussels we'll pull £1bn of funding after German plot to freeze us out

BOJO BLUNDER

Boris in security storm after talking about Putin to Kremlin-linked pranksters

HARDLY BOND!

Viewers mock MI6's new TV recruitment ad which claims 'we're just like you'

WAGE WAR

Get the lowdown on the National Living Wage and the amount you are entitled to

BEHIND BARS

Lags on day release to be paid to work in pubs when migrants leave after Brexit

FOR INK AND COUNTRY

Wills urged to get TATTOO of a cross when he goes to Jerusalem

MAY'S ABUSE PLEDGE

PM to get tough on 'gaslighting' after tragic suicide of MP’s daughter

JAVID BACKS BOBBIES

Home Secretary supports use of bite and spit guards for frontline cops

John O’Connell, chief exec of the Taxpayers Alliance said: “Politicians have been on a spending binge for years in Scotland, not only crippling taxpayers with a massive debt, but immorally passing it on to our children.

“As the SNP gather for their conference, politicians should be finding ways to repair public finances and put an end to this spending spree.”

Twitter

Taxpayers’ Alliance director John O’Connell blame political spending sprees for 'crippling taxpayers with a massive debt'

The blast – on the eve of the beginning of the SNP Party conference – comes just weeks after the Centre for Policy Studies said an independent Scotland would become “Greece without the sun.”

During the independence campaign the SNP forecast North Sea oil revenues of between £6.8 billion to £7.9 billion in 2016-2017– but it could pocket just £500 million.